CTA plan: Priority lanes for some Loop buses

Tribune illustration

Tribune illustration

By Ellen Jean HirstTribune reporter

The Chicago Department of Transportation and the Chicago Transit Authority released a plan Wednesday for Bus Rapid Transit that could save commuters in the Central Loop three to nine minutes on each trip, CTA spokeswoman Lambrini Lukidis said.

Eastbound Washington will have a bus-only lane, with an island for customers to board the buses, and two automobile lanes. A bike lane on the southern curb will be protected from cars by the bus lane and boarding platforms.

Westbound Madison won’t change other than having its bike lane relocated to westbound Randolph Street, CDOT spokesman Pete Scales said. Madison is five feet narrower than both Randoph and Washington, so it made sense to shift the bike lane, he said.

The project is financed by a $24.6 million Federal Transit Administration grant and $7.3 million in local tax increment financing funds.